Urmila slams anti-Pakistan rhetoric in Bollywood films
Indo-Asian News Service
Mumbai, September 6
After Akshay Kumar, it is the turn of actress Urmila Matondkar to speak out against Pakistan bashing in Bollywood movies.
Urmila, whose latest film Pinjar is set during the partition of India and Pakistan, told IANS in an interview: “Unfortunately, a great deal of patriotic Hindi cinema in recent times has become anti-Pakistan. It shouldn’t be so.”
Said the actress: "Ever since I began working on Pinjar, I’ve been reading up a lot on the plight of women who were abducted during the partition. In fact I’m right now reading a collection of stories on the partition, and I can’t tell you how moved I am.
"I don’t think any film ever has or ever will make as much difference to me as a human being, actress and a woman as Pinjar.
“I feel Indian history hasn’t really recorded the pain and suffering of the women who were used as pawns in the vendetta game during partition. Abduction and rape were only the beginning of these women’s trauma.”
Urmila, who on Friday undertook a trip to the India-Pakistan land border at Wagah to promote the film, said she was excited about the trip.
“If nothing else, cynics will attribute all sorts of motives to me. We’ll release ‘Pinjar’ music there. It will also be distributed on the other side of the border.”
The actress also had plans to stop at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on the way.
"I’ll try to visit a home for homeless women in Jalandhar. Women there have gone through a lot of the experiences that my character goes through in ‘Pinjar’.
"My visit isn’t the least political. But I feel it will make a difference, no matter how small. I feel strongly on the issue of India-Pakistan relationship.
"It’s time for all artistes to extend a hand of friendship. I hope ‘Pinjar’ will break the impasse regarding the release of Hindi films in Pakistan. We Bollywood stars have such a huge fan following there. Our films are seen on pirated CDs.
“So why not make Hindi films legitimate in Pakistan? And why not start with ‘Pinjar’? It’s a film that looks dispassionately at people on both sides of the border. Cruelty and suffering have neither a border nor a religion. That’s what ‘Pinjar’ has shown.”
An excited Urmila continued: "Maybe it’s premature to talk about India-Pakistan bonding. But this visit makes me extremely emotional. Relations across the border have become such a sore point for all Indians and Pakistan.
"It’s time to tackle the issue headlong. And one of the things we in Bollywood must do is to stop screaming negative things about Pakistan. It’s time for all of us to stare at the past unblinkingly. That’s what ‘Pinjar’ does.
"When I read the script I had so many questions and ideas to offer my director Chandraprakash Diwedi. As an individual born long after partition I felt a deep need within me to understand what happened at that crossroad in history.
“It’s not possible to fake concern over this matter. My father has been part of cross-border amity organisation for years. I grew up hearing of peaceful relations with our neighbours. Today I feel so close to the people in Pakistan. I think cinema can really play a huge hand in the peace process.”
